Should Harden take a mid-range jumper if left open or dared to?

if the doggystyle can stop someone from shooting threes and midrange, it's literally the best defensive scheme you can play, at least against an ISO player. Are NBA teams really that dumb and never figured it out until this point?

 

Butt cheke starting to itch

 

its always the one's who try to bark the loudest, that try to make it seem like they discovered something that's not really there. classic couch coaches who have no sense of objectivity. Their eye test is completely fooling them and the funny thing is they don't know it

 

considering no other teams have a harden or operate the same system, it's a pure testament to him.

has 0 to do with nba teams being dumb.

 

Jazz lost because of their offensive shortcomings, not because of their defense, which was great for the most part. And you really think getting rid of a trailing defender is that difficult? For instance, Harden can start attacking a little early or use screens to create more space. This is just basic stuff.

 

Of course he should, especially if he’s not in range or in a good position for his floater. I was encouraged by James making at least 3 floaters last night that I can recall. He can hit midrange jumpers, though, and if that’s what he’s being given, shoot them. I don’t know what his percentage is during the season shooting from midrange, but if you make that a low priority in practice, and we know he works on his game like a madman, you aren’t likely to make a high percentage of them, in my opinion.

 

bro, doggystyle defense is literally sagging off in reverse. players don't usually get flattered when defenders sag off from them.

 

bro, they can do what they're doing bc they obviously rely on someone named Rudy Gobert. ever heard of him. he's know as a dpoy

pretty flattering to alter a new defensive gameplan for 1 player. They respect his stepback game that much they took that away. nobody is sagging off him. they forcing him to make the right reads which obviously you don't see. the jazz defense would have a field day with you literally

 

Or maybe instead he should develop a granny-style underhanded 3-point shot he could use when the defender chooses to ass-guard him.

Lots of great ideas in this thread! Keep 'em coming, armchair coaches!

 

It doesn't have to be Rudy Gobert. A decent defensive big can limit Harden's floaters, and Harden isn't that great at floaters to begin with. Every team would live with that shot, and isn't it kinda sad that Harden is basically left with one scoring option when you take away his threes? yes the Rockets can still win with Harden making right reads and dishing out 10+assists and lobs, but Harden as a scorer wouldn't be nearly as effective.

I can't imagine MJ, Kobe, or even Wade's scoring getting hampered to that degree by certain defensive scheme.

 

he isn't that great at floaters. the numbers disagree with you. once again, all you're going off of is some random eye tests and what your personal opinion is. none of which agree with what's going on in reality.

Live with it then? The Jazz are going to Cancun. By all means live it up. while the rockets are moving to the 2nd round. excellent logic there

considering none of them play the game the way harden does, it shouldn't be such a revelation to you. but then again not all too surprising based on your rep around here

 

Wait, you're a proponent of the midrange shot, but you think the floater is a bad shot? What do you mean he "isn't that great at floaters"? He shot them at 49% this season, and he's in the top 10% of the NBA at this shot. It's insane to me that you constantly talk about how much you want him to take midrange shots, and now you are seemingly arguing against yourself here, saying that "every team would live with that shot." Every team would live with a 49% two point shot? And you say if he was taking these shots, he wouldn't be nearly as effective?

 

Harden was never good at it until this season, and even during this season most teams didn't really scout Harden's floaters. It wasn't on their radar so the defenses never really adjusted to it. Once they do, it will be much less effective, just like the Jazz showed in this series.

the fact Harden is left with floaters as the only scoring option when you take away his threes should be an immediate red flag. also, Jazz lost because their offense sucked, not because of their defense. Their defense was great for the most part. Nice try.

 

This is being dared to shoot or left open. That is not what the Jazz/Bucks did to Harden.

 

I mean, sure, although if he's being tailed from behind I wouldn't want him necessarily taking a semi-running midrange shot, although James Harden can probably make it.

I'm having a hard time envisioning specific instances where this would happen, though. Also, Harden is still having learning to transition from his right hand to his left hand and straight into a shot. That's what's been killing his floater in the Jazz series. The defense worked in that regard by making that shot more complicated. The same thing would likely happen transitioning to his shooting arm for a midrange shot.

 

its not a red flag. Unless james harden all of a sudden became the only person on the floor. In which case, you definitely need your eyes checked.

 

Coach Wylo and his buddy believe this is what the jazz are doing

 

The teams never scouted Harden's floaters because it wasn't one of his go-to-moves in the past. Once they adjust their defense to limit Harden's floaters, it will be much less effective. Even the Jazz did it between game 2 and 3. In game 2, they didn't execute properly on Harden's floaters. In game 3, everything changed. What makes you think other teams are incapable of doing that? Harden himself knows this, and is the reason why he adds another weapon to his game every single year.

 

So basically Harden should score all of his points with floaters? literally GOAT offensive player